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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doubled down Wednesday on
insisting that his players stand for the national anthem Janoris
Jenkins Jersey , declaring that he wouldn’t support anyone who
chose to stay in the locker room.

Speaking at his annual news conference to open training camp in California,
the outspoken billionaire became the first owner to say publicly that his
players would not be allowed to stay off the field during the anthem.

”No,” Jones said when asked if he would support players staying in the locker
room. ”Our policy is that you stand at the anthem, toe on the line.”

Last week, the NFL and the players’ union agreed to suspend the rule approved
by owners this spring that gave players the option of staying in the locker room
while allowing teams to discipline players who took a knee or sat during the
anthem.

The decision to begin negotiating on the issue came hours after The
Associated Press reported that Miami Dolphins players who protested during the
anthem could be suspended for up to four games under team policy.

Last season, Jones was the first owner to declare that he would bench a
player for protesting during the anthem. Two of his players – defensive linemen
David Irving and Damontre Moore – raised their fists briefly as ”The Star
Spangled Banner” ended but weren’t disciplined.

”I obviously wouldn’t dare speak for any of the other owners, much less in
general about 31 other owners,” Jones said. ”As far as the Dallas Cowboys are
concerned, you know where I stand. Our team knows where I stand on the
issue.”

The issue erupted in 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin
Kaepernick began protesting police brutality Morten
Andersen Jersey , social injustice and racial inequality by
kneeling during the national anthem. The demonstration spread to other players
and teams.

The NFL started requiring players to be on the field for the anthem in 2009,
the year it signed a marketing deal with the military. Jones had already owned
the Cowboys for 20 years when players moved from the locker room to the field
for the anthem.

Jones said he understood the point of view of players who say they aren’t
protesting the flag or the military.

”This is a case where we need to in my mind check that and be real clear that
it is, the priority is about the flag, and be real clear about that,” Jones
said. ”Sometimes it’s best to just be real clear and succinct so that nobody
misunderstands. I think that’s our case.”

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys don’t have an anthem
issue because his father has made his stance clear from the beginning.

”I do understand when you see the back and forth,” Stephen Jones said. ”But
we’ve been consistent and we’ve never moved. Jerry’s never changed his stance
once. I think he feels strongly about it.”

The younger Jones didn’t want to speak for the players when asked if Jerry
Jones’ strong message is the reason none of his players have defied him.

”I was always brought up when you work for somebody and they’re the boss, you
play by their rules,” Stephen Jones said.

Jones, who drew praise from President Donald Trump when he said last year
that he would bench players Stefan
Charles Jersey , said Trump’s continuing involvement in the anthem
issue is ”problematic” for the league.

Trump weighed in again after news of the Dolphins’ policy broke, tweeting
”The $40,000,000 Commissioner must now make a stand,” a reference to Roger
Goodell.

”His interest in what we’re doing is problematic from my chair and I would
say, in general, in the owner’s chairs,” Jerry Jones said. ”And unprecedented if
you really think about it. But like the very game itself, that’s the way it is
and we’ll deal with it. But Aaron Rodgers
Jersey , yes, everybody would like for it to go away.”

Unlike other sports organizations, the Cowboys haven’t distanced themselves
from Papa John’s after founder and CEO John Schnatter was ousted over a racial
slur.

Schnatter was already under fire for suggesting last year that the pizza
company’s sluggish sales were a result of the controversy surrounding the
anthem.

Jerry Jones, who has had a close relationship with Schnatter, said the
Cowboys couldn’t cut ties with the company because of an ownership stake in Papa
John’s stores. Stephen Jones said the team was linked to 50 stores in the Dallas
area.

”I regret that for John,” Jerry Jones said. ”But at the end of the day we’ve
got too many people, too many customers, too many people that we just need to do
as good as we can do under the circumstances.”

NOTES: DE David Irving was placed on the ”did not report” list after getting
clearance from the Cowboys to deal with personal issues. Jerry Jones said he
didn’t expect Irving to attend camp for the three weeks the Cowboys are in
California. … DT Maliek Collins (foot) was placed on the physically unable to
perform list, while S Kavon Frazier and DE Randy Gregory are on the non-football
injury list. Gregory was recently reinstated from a yearlong ban for violating
the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

—

Cornerback Vontae Davis says the opportunity to play in a talented young
secondary is what eventually drew him to sign a one-year contract with the
Buffalo Bills.

Davis also says he's put behind last year's dispute with former Colts coach
Chuck Pagano that eventually led to Indianapolis cutting him in early November.
The 29-year-old Davis called it "one of those unfortunate situations Terron
Armstead Jersey ," and is focused on moving forward.

He spoke during a conference call Friday, three days after signing with
Buffalo.

Davis referred to the Bills as being "a perfect fit." The nine-year NFL
veteran called it "intriguing" to join a secondary made up of safeties Micah
Hyde and Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre'Davious White, a Defensive Rookie of
the Year contender last season.

Hyde and Poyer had five interceptions each, and White four as Buffalo
finished tied for sixth in the NFL with 18 interceptions.

Davis' five-plus-season tenure with the Colts ended after he publicly
complained about how the team handled his demotion to a backup role. Pagano said
the decision wasn't injury related. Davis disputed that by saying his drop in
production was directly linked to a groin tear that occurred during a preseason
game.

Davis elected to have surgery after he was cut.

He says he was cleared to resume working out two weeks ago, but isn't sure if
he'll be able to fully participate once the Bills start practicing in May.

The Bills have a need at cornerback with starter E.J. Gaines and backups
Leonard Johnson and Shareece Wright all set to become free agents in two
weeks.

Davis entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins before
being traded to the Colts for a second-round pick in 2012. He has started 113 of
120 games, with 342 tackles, 97 passes defensed and 22
interceptions.